Make Your Own Breadcrumbs

One large tub would last through multiple casseroles, breaded chicken, and a plethora of pasta dishes, and I honestly thought there was nothing wrong with it…until I looked at our grocery budget and decided store bought breadcrumbs was just plain silly to spend money on!

I finally figured out my very own recipe that keeps in the freezer for just as long, and haven't bought bread crumbs since. Plus, I think they just taste so much better, especially since I toast them in lots of butter and flavor them with seasonings.

If you're just starting to experiment with “from scratch” pantry staples, this recipe could not be any easier!

How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs

Step 1: Start saving all the end pieces of bread loaves in a separate bag in your freezer. You can use a freezer bag, or just keep a stash going in an empty bread bag. Once the bag is full, take out of the freezer, break the bread apart, and place a few separate pieces in the food processor at a time. I love love love my Ninja Blender for this! If you don't have a food processor, you can still make bread crumbs with a hand grater. It just takes more time, but works perfectly in a pinch! I would suggest you use frozen bread so it crumbles apart easier. Step 2: Pull out a large skillet and melt 1 tbsp butter on medium heat.

Step 3: Add 1 cup of breadcrumbs and 1 tbsp Italian seasoning to the pan. If you want to keep the breadcrumbs plain, just omit the seasoning.

Step 4: Stir breadcrumbs until toasty brown. I think the best way to know when the crumbs are done, is when they feel dry and brittle to the touch. Step 5: Let cool on a cookie sheet and then package into labeled freezer bags. See? It's SO easy!

Place 1 cup breadcrumbs into a large skillet on Medium heat with 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp Italian seasoning. Omit the seasoning if you want plain breadcrumbs.

Stir occasionally until crumbs are a toasty brown and feel dry to the touch, about 5-8 minutes.

Let cool on a cookie sheet and package into labeled freezer bags.

4.5.2.11

Total Cost:$.18/cup

I figured this recipe would be pretty frugal…I just didn’t realize by how much! Generic brand breadcrumbs cost approximately $.57/cup, whereas the homemade version is much less.

There's really no point to spend that kind of money on stale bread when you can easily make your own. Best of all, it uses up those pesky leftover bread heels that I never end up eating, and saves them from the trash. Do this every month or so, and you will always have a stash of breadcrumbs in the freezer to pull out for any meal!

Have you ever made homemade breadcrumbs?

Tweetable:

Use up pesky bread heels and make your own breadcrumbs from scratch. It's cheap, and easy! <– {Click to Tweet}

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Comments

I started making all our own bread (well, most of the time anyway) last summer, and began saving those crunchy heels for breadcrumbs. Love making my own blend of wheat/garlic/oatmeal crumbs… tastes better than store-bought, and saves money too!

And your eliminating that long list of preservatives you’ll find in store bought bread crumbs. Love the idea of adding butter and seasoning. I’ve been blending my bread heels down but they were missing flavor. Your recipe will make them a homerun. Thanks!

It really shouldn’t matter how long. I just keep an ongoing stash of heels in the freezer until I’m ready to make breadcrumbs, and I’ve kept seasoned breadcrumbs in the freezer for months without a problem. Hope that helps!